So you want to "go green" when you decorate or furnish your home! Just the thought of doing that may conjure up going to a chic city showroom and choosing some expensive furniture made of native materials from the rain forest. Of course that may be a part of going green, but you don't have to spend a lot of money to go green. Instead, just consider buying plain old furniture made in the U.S. years ago that has been meticulously cared for by its owners.

The benefits of buying old furniture may not be obvious so lets go through them:

• You keep the furniture from ending up in the landfill.
• You're not cut down new trees.
• You're not using energy to manufacture or ship products long distance.
• Yesterday's furniture was made made with real wood not MDF or laminates.
• It's built to last and with a little tender loving care it will be great.
• You spend less money.

How to go about it?
Consignment shops that accept used furniture and home decorations are usually found in most major cities. In the Washington DC area there is a place called Upscale Resale in Falls Church Virginia. We visited the place and were totally amazed with the selection. There are many old pieces, art deco, and most are in terrific shape. The store was the size of a football field and contained everything you could possibly need. Prices are marked down each day or week. The final mark downs are placed in the last room and these are where the really good deals are. In terms of home decor and carpets, this is is also a good bet.

The next place to look for old pieces of furniture, doors, and lighting is ReStore-Habitat for Humanity Outlets. These are usually located in each county. We have found that the stores in Gaithersburg and Baltimore Maryland have good selections of doors. In contrast, the Home Restoration Store in Alexandria Virginia has a good supply of furniture.

If you are interested in selling your old furniture, consignment stores like Upscale Resale are a good bet. They usually take 50 percent of the price that the piece sells for. If you want to donate furniture consider donating to the ReStore-Habitat for Humanity Outlets.

Most pieces found at Upscale Resale or the ReStore-Habitat for Humanity Outlets requires some refurbishment, but you will find the effort well worth it.